Improvement in umbrellas



U. G. STEINMETZ.

UMBRELLA;

Nu.175.194. Patented March 21,1876.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

URIAH Gr. STEINMETZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN UMBRELLAS.

Specification form ng part of Letters Patent No. 175,194, dated March21, 1876; application filed March 2, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, URIAH G. STEINMETZ,

' of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Umbrellas; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a clear and exact description of the naturethereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains tofully understand, make, and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is a transverse section of an umbrellaembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached view of one of the ribs andstretchers, showing how they appear when the umbrella is closed. Fig. 3is an enlarged sectional view of a detached portion. Fig. 4 is v -abottom view of a portion thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

My invention consists of sectional ribs, the end of one sectionoverlapping the end of the other section, the*extent of overlapcorresponding with the opening or space of the fork of the stretcher, soas to admit of its being drawn in with the shoulder of the fork in thestretcher at an angle corresponding with the length of the overlap ofthe ribs and extent of the fork, whereby, when the umbrella is closed,the two sections will be held extended as one and locked by thestretcher.

The invention also consists in forming the stretchers with arches neartheir outer ends, the crowns of which are on the outside so as to comeadjacent to the ribs and contiguous therewith, for bringing the ribsclosely to the stick when the umbrella is closed, and for throwing outthe ribs when they are relieved from the tip-cups or other fastenings,so that the ribs will be cleared of the runner, and the hand may freelyreach the runner. It also consists of auxiliary fastenings secured to orformed with the stretchers and located in the forks thereof, forsecurely and conveniently locking the sections of the ribs when theumbrella is extended or open for use.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the stick or staff of anumbrella, B the ribs, and

O the stretchers thereof. Each rib is formed in sections a b, of whichthe upper section a is fixed to a stock, D, and the lower section b ispivoted to said stock, whereby the said sec-' tion b may be swung overand folded against the section a.

The hinged section b is extended beyond its axis 0, so as to form aportion, E, which overlaps the end of the section b, which is fixed tothe stock, and the extent of overlap corresponds with the space oropening of the fork d of the stretcher, so that said fork will notinterfere with the end of the hinged section during the folding motionof the latter.

It will be seen that when the umbrella is opened each rib will be bentinwardly at its two ends, due to the strain of the fabric or coverin g,and thus the hinged sections will be held firmly to bearings against thefixed sections, or the stocks, and the ribs will act to all intents andpurposes the same as an umbrella each of whose ribs is formed in onepiece. When the umbrellais closed thesections will be held extended andthe stretchers rest against the hinged sections; then the runner ismoved clear up to {the top, and the stick or staff, being likewise insections, is also folded, and thus the umbrella will be in compact formin small compass.

F represents an arch which is formed in the stretcher in proximity tothe fork d thereof, and the crowns of the arch are on the side 'adjacentto the ribs. When the umbrella is closed the lower or tip ends of theribs are thrown out by the action of the arches F, but they aresubsequently drawn in so as to be fastened by the tip-cup or otherfastenings, and thus the tip-ends of the ribs are held in withoutswelling out the portion of the rib at the point of connection with thestretcher. By this construction the ribs may be brought closely to thestick, and the bulging of the umbrella is prevented,'the umbrella thuspresenting a more slender appearance than where the style of formedstretcher now in use is applied.

Moreover, as soon as the tip-cup or fastening is released, the tip-endsof the ribs fly out or away from the stick, and thus the runner iscleared of the ribs, whereby the hand may freely reach the runnerwithout interference of the ribs.

G represents an auxiliary fastening for the sectional ribs, and itconsists of a head which is formed with or secured to the stretcher, andprojects into the space or opening of the fork thereof, so that when theumbrella is opened said head comes in contact with the end of theoverlapping portion of the hinged section b of the rib, and bears firmlythere against, so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the twosections of the rib. When, however, the umbrella is to be folded, therunner of the stretcher will be moved so that the head clears theaforesaid end of the overlapping portion of the hinged section; tl.en,by inverting the umbrella, the hinged sections fall over against thefixed section, and the operation and result will be similar to thatpreviously stated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- l. The sectional rib formed with a fixedsection, a, and a hinged section, I), having an overlapping portion, E,in combination with the fork d of the stretcher, the extent of overlapcorresponding with the opening or space of the fork, so that thestretcher will lock the sections when the umbrellais closed,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The stretcher of an umbrella formed with arches in proximity to theouter ends thereof, the crowns of which face outward, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

3. The auxiliary fastening for the sectional ribs, consisting of headssecured to or formed on the stretchers, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

U. G. STEINMETZ.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, H. E. HINDMARSH.

